Parliamentary working group to investigate future of transport network

Parliamentary working group to investigate future of transport network

The Ministry of Transport and Communications will set up a parliamentary working group tasked with determining the measures required for the maintenance and development of the transport network. Reduction of the maintenance backlog, development investments, the developments in digitalisation and the emission reduction targets will be taken into account.

The term of the working group is 28 February 2017– 28 February 2018. The working group will give an interim report on proposals related to emission reductions on 18 August 2017.

The task of the parliamentary working group on the transport network is to consider measures for responding to the emission reduction targets set for transport in the national climate policy, and for creating the preconditions for digital transport services and the automation of transport.

The parliamentary working group on the transport network is aimed at drawing up a cost-effective and appropriate plan for the development and financing of the transport route network. The aim is to create a plan for implementing the objectives of the national climate policy by 2030 and to create a favourable operating environment for digital transport services and automation. In addition, the aim is to reduce the maintenance backlog in the next ten years and secure the financing required for the maintenance of the transport route network.

The task of the working group is to determine adequate measures for reaching the above-mentioned objectives. The starting point is that the total tax burden, the sustainability gap in the public economy and the responsibilities of the central government must be manageable.

The reason behind setting up the working group is concern about adequate central government funding for the maintenance and development of the transport network. Due to lack of funding, the Finnish transport network has a maintenance backlog of EUR 2.5 billion, which keeps increasing by EUR 100 million a year.

The transport network must be capable of responding to the requirements of citizens, companies and society in all of Finland now and in future. Digitalisation and automation of transport, the growing role of services and the increasing importance of information are changing customer needs and consequently the demands placed on the transport network. The condition of the transport networks directly affects Finland’s competitiveness.

Minister of Transport and Communications Anne Berner is the chair of the working group.

In addition, the working group has two representatives from each of the four largest parties represented in Parliament and one representative from the other parties represented in Parliament. Parties with one representative in the group can appoint a deputy member. The names of the working group members will be published once the parties have announced their representatives.

The secretary general of the working group is Director-General Mikael Nyberg from the Ministry of Transport and Communications. The secretaries of the working group will be appointed from the Ministry of Transport and Communications and the Ministry of Finance, and the permanent advisers from the Ministry of Transport and Communications, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment.

In addition, the working group may set up sub-working groups and use advisers.